Michigan Will Remember The `Wrecking Crew'

Texas A&m Defense Leads Way To Alamo Bowl Victory

SAN ANTONIO — Michigan has seen some pretty tough offenses in the Big Ten this season, but not too many great defenses.

It showed here Thursday night, as Texas A&M's "Wrecking Crew" unit stymied the Wolverines. The Aggie defense was ranked third nationally entering this year's Alamo Bowl, and it delivered.

No. 19 Texas A&M also overcame the loss of its most productive offensive player, running back Leeland McElroy. The Aggies scratched and scraped together enough yards to beat No. 14 Michigan 22-20 before 64,597 at the Alamodome.

The Wolverines (9-4) managed just one field goal in the second half, plus a meaningless touchdown bomb with five seconds left. Texas A&M (9-3) only got three field goals during the last 30 minutes, but that was enough.

The first two quarters were just about even, ending in a 13-10 Aggie advantage, and featured the defensive struggle that many had envisioned. Neither team moved the ball very effectively, but Texas A&M ran more plays and found ways to get more points.

Yet the Aggies struck first, after forcing that fumble on Michigan's second possession. Wolverine running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, usually sure-handed, put one on the turf at his team's own 5-yard line.

It took Texas A&M two plays, but the Aggies' Eric Bernard scored on a 9-yard run.

Michigan answered on its next possession. With Biakabutuka finding little room to run against a bunched-up Texas A&M defense--he lost six yards on seven first-quarter runs--the Wolverines began to throw more.

It also took a lot of help from the Aggies, who initially challenged Michigan with a long field. The Wolverines moved from their own 23, scoring the tying touchdown in just two plays and 66 seconds.

Michigan quarterback Brian Griese started the drive by going long to split end Amani Toomer. The pass was incomplete, but A&M got hit with interference.

On the next play, a Biakabutuka rush for just a yard, an Aggie defender was flagged for a personal foul. That gave the Wolverines a first down at A&M's 46, and an offsides call against the Aggies moved it up another five yards.

Griese then hit Toomer with a 41-yard touchdown pass.

Texas A&M came back on its next possession, mounting an impressive 70-yard drive that ended in a 27-yard field goal by Kyle Bryant, giving the Aggies a 10-7 lead. Michigan did its part to give back some ground on penalties during the march, committing two personal fouls for 30 yards.

Biakabutuka finally began to find a little bit of space on the next Wolverine drive, carrying five times for 35 yards. He helped get Michigan to the Texas A&M 11, where the drive stalled.

Remy Hamilton tied the score at 10 with a 28-yard field goal.

Michigan was done for the half, coming up empty on two subsequent possessions, but Texas A&M had one more score left.

The Aggies, not known as a passing team, surprisingly threw their way to a quick field goal. Quarterback Corey Pullig connected on an 18-yard screen and then a 20-yard toss over the middle, eventually getting his offense to Michigan's 20.

Bryant hit a 49-yard field goal as time expired.

He added field goals of 47, 31 and 37 yards in the second half as A&M snapped Michigan's three-game winning streak in bowl games.

Aggies coach R.C. Slocum improved his bowl record to 2-4 and ended a three-game skid in the postseason.